The Male Lead Is Trying To Tame Me With Money - Chapter 6

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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06.

“…Casian.”

The Emperor revealed his uncomfortable mood.

However, my boss had built up years of shamelessness that wouldn’t yield to such pressure.

“Will you not permit it, Your Majesty?”

Casian looked at the Emperor with a face that truly seemed hurt.

“If Miss Salice becomes heartbroken over this matter and returns to her estate, I’ll have to return half of the work Your Majesty has assigned me. I am, after all.”

As he pretended to bow his head, he slyly cast a meaningful glance toward the Empress. A subtle smile briefly crossed Casian’s lips as if to show off.

“Quite inadequate.”

Though he didn’t think so in the slightest.

Casian recited the words the Empress had habitually spat out over the past few years like a weapon, then looked up at the Emperor pitifully again.

The Emperor frowned even more at this threat that wasn’t quite a threat.

The amount of work Casian handled was indeed enormous, and it was true that the Emperor’s heavy workload had noticeably decreased since he had stayed in the capital.

Moreover, if he ordered the Empress to greet first here, it would only damage her dignity.

There were too many watching eyes.

The Emperor sighed as if he had no choice and looked at me.

Though the Empress’s expression had turned ice-cold and deeply troubled me, I drew upon the shamelessness I’d been trained in over the past year by my boss and bowed to the Emperor.

“Roselita of the Salice Baron family pays her respects to Your Majesty.”

“…Yes, I hear you’ve been through much hardship. Continue to assist the Prince well in the future.”

“I understand, Your Majesty.”

When I bowed once more in greeting, the Emperor waved his hand as if satisfied.

“The first dance will begin soon, so we shall withdraw.”

And having achieved his intended purpose, Casian led me away from the Emperor’s presence with ease.

The Emperor’s voice muttering ‘How insolent!’ rang in my ears.

It was a voice meant to appease his beloved Empress.

*

“…I thought it was just an excuse, Your Highness.”

“Lying before His Imperial Majesty would be a crime of deception, Rose.”

Though you seem to have told quite a lot of lies today, Your Highness.

Contrary to my expectation that I’d go straight home from work, I was actually dancing with Casian.

After withdrawing from the Emperor’s presence, he had formally requested a dance with such proper courtesy and etiquette.

“It would also be a waste.”

“Pardon?”

“When Rose has dressed up so nicely for once.”

“Is that a criticism of my usual attire?”

“Not at all, I quite like Rose’s usual appearance. Even things like the strands of hair that slip out carelessly.”

When I openly frowned to show my displeasure, he chuckled softly.

“More importantly, Rose.”

“Yes?”

“If the Empress summons you, you can refuse.”

“…Pardon?”

I stupidly blurted out at such an absurd statement.

How could a mere baron’s daughter refuse the Empress’s summons?

“I’ll take responsibility for you.”

Even in the original story, Casian had said he’d protect Roselita, but I could count on one hand the times he actually did.

Of course, unlike the original, this Casian was quite like a cunning fox.

‘Like making that expression in front of the Emperor today.’

Casian Artez had strong pride and never made pitiful or needy sounds to others.

That was partly why things went wrong in the original story.

He had to be honorable, and thinking of his deceased mother’s honor, he couldn’t bow his head carelessly.

So when someone called him inadequate, he tried to suppress them by force.

‘But the current Casian isn’t like that.’

If he could handle work efficiently, he’d willingly use a bit of trickery, and he didn’t particularly care if he looked foolish.

Because he knew he’d be the one laughing in the end.

It was exactly like an improved version of Casian, fixing the points that frustrated me in the original story.

‘Hmm….’

I felt somehow uneasy.

I had the feeling I was forgetting something important.

Anyway, to that extent, I thought I could trust Casian’s current promise to take responsibility.

“It’s fine, Your Highness.”

I also didn’t want to take a detour when there was an easy path available.

Unlike the original, Casian’s current position wasn’t very bad, but it wasn’t very good either.

He had no allies in the Imperial Court.

So I didn’t want to become his burden.

I thought rather heroically, but.

“This is troubling.”

“…Why is that?”

“Rose saying she’ll respond to someone else’s temptation makes me so disappointed.”

He teased me with a face full of mischief.

*

I thought it would be a few days before she’d summon me, or maybe not at all.

While Casian was briefly talking with other nobles, the Empress’s lady-in-waiting came to summon me.

“Her Imperial Majesty the Empress has summoned you, so follow me.”

The lady-in-waiting, who was a countess, looked at me with haughty, thoroughly condescending eyes.

I really felt the urge to refuse, blaming Casian slightly, but unlike him, I was a well-mannered person, so I quietly followed.

The Empress was languidly leaning back on the sofa, but as soon as she saw me arrive, for some reason she displayed joyful emotions all over her face and rose from her seat.

“Thank you for responding to my call, Miss Salice!”

Her voice even had a nasal quality mixed in.

Why?

I had come prepared to take a slap or so.

Then Casian would pay for medical treatment, so I thought it would be quite profitable.

Actually, in the original story, Roselita had nearly been poisoned by the Empress and slapped multiple times, so I naturally assumed she’d summoned me to vent her anger this time too.

But unlike her appearance in the hall, the Empress spoke very warmly, even putting her arm around my shoulder and whispering.

“You don’t need to be so nervous. It couldn’t have been easy working in the Imperial Court at such a young age. I was too indifferent.”

“Not at all, Your Imperial Majesty.”

So I decided to just act innocent and stupid.

When you don’t know someone’s intentions, it’s best to appear harmless first.

“I’m not sure if this will suit Miss Salice’s taste. I’m getting older now, so I’m reducing my sugar intake.”

The Empress said this while offering me prettily arranged refreshments.

Knowing the original story’s content, I was a bit reluctant, but eventually I cut them into small pieces and put them in my mouth.

Right now, she had no reason to poison me. The risk would be too great just for venting anger.

“It’s very delicious, Your Imperial Majesty.”

So I deliberately chewed and swallowed even more foolishly, deciding to act unsophisticated.

“This is my first time eating something like this….”

Of course, it was a lie.

Casian had fed me so many delicious things to make me work more that my palate had become quite luxurious.

He had an uncanny ability to know that I’d work overtime a bit longer if I just ate delicious food.

“Oh my, oh my. It’s not even that precious.”

The Empress seemed pleased with my answer, looking even more benevolent and pitying.

“I suppose the Salice Estate is quite difficult. Is that why you’re working in the capital at such a young age, separated from your parents?”

“…Yes.”

I acted very ashamed.

Usually, noble young ladies wanted to hide their poverty, and they wouldn’t even consider working outside like this unless it was an honorary position.

Then the Empress, as if being considerate of me, made the nearby maids step back a little further.

“I was too inconsiderate, Lady Salice. I didn’t mean to embarrass you. I truly wanted to care for you as an Imperial elder…”

The Empress said this while taking my hand.

Her skin was smooth from being well-maintained, and unlike mine, her fingers were straight without any bumpy spots.

“You understand my heart, don’t you, Lady Salice?”

“…Yes, Your Majesty the Empress.”

I deliberately didn’t add flowery language.

Although I was pretending to be not very smart, I thought the Empress would half-realize it was an act given what I had been doing with Casian.

The Empress looked at me silently for a moment, then patted my hand.

“So pitiful.”

I quietly lowered my head.

For some reason, what Casian had said in the evening echoed in my ears.

“Surely Baron and Baroness Salice would want to be with you too, and when I think of our prince being far away, my heart feels like it would tear…”

That’s why whenever the First Prince had to go out, she dumped all the difficult, harsh, and unpleasant tasks on Casian.

“Being a parent myself, I feel so sorry for Lady Salice. I’m not usually the type of person to say such things…”

The Empress placed her hand on my shoulder as if telling me to raise my head.

With my head still lowered, I earnestly thought sad thoughts and looked at the Empress with eyes that had become slightly warm.

I could sense satisfaction in her eyes.

“I’d like to help the Salice Estate a little.”

“…Pardon?”

I deliberately let out a voice half-mixed with air, as if I hadn’t expected this at all.

“You must have heard many unpleasant things since coming to the capital, and Prince Casian is thorough with work, so it must have been hard.”

The Empress let out a deep sigh.

“Prince Casian never learned how to be considerate of ladies, Lady Salice must understand. He’s been so busy because of His Majesty’s orders, hasn’t he.”

“I’m fine.”

“No, no. You can be honest in front of me.”

The Empress’s hand on my shoulder patted slowly.

“I’ll help you so that you can be with your parents.”

It was a very sweet, tempting voice.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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